190 
Records of the Australian Museum (2017) Vol. 69 
New Zealand: NW of Three Kings Islands (NMNZ M020819, 1); W 
Norfolk Ridge, W of Cape Reinga (NMNZ M171032,2; M172330, 5); Te 
Werahi Beach, Cape Maria van Diemen (NMNZ M277691,2); Tapotupotu, 
E of Cape Reinga (GNS RM4697, 1; RM6154, 12); Spirits Bay (NMNZ 
M277687, 2; M277689, 3); Tom Bowling Bay (NMNZ M011904, 2); Te 
Paki, Ninety Mile Beach (NMNZ M277686, 3); N end of Ninety Mile 
Beach (NMNZ M277690, 12; GNS RM4636, 5); The Bluff, Ninety Mile 
Beach (GNS RM4058, 3; NMNZ M277693, 4); Paua, Parengarenga 
Harbour (NMNZ M277692, 1); Tokerau Beach, Doubtless Bay (NMNZ 
M277688, 1); Cavalli Islands, Whangaroa (NMNZ M308660, 1); Takou 
Bay (GNS RM4442, 2; NMNZ M277685, 2); Russell, Bay of Islands 
(NMNZ M087141,2); Whangarei Heads (NMNZ M02758,3; AWM18331; 
AWM30529); Te Henga, W Auckland (M216304, NMNZ); Waitakere West, 
W Auckland (AWM18160); Piha Beach, W Auckland (NMNZ M090620, 
5; GNS RM5309,24); Bethells Beach, W Auckland (NMNZ M016304,30; 
M087139, 40); Muriwai Beach, W Auckland (GNS RM330, 10; NMNZ 
M02757, 70; M011903, 4; M087144, 100; M160082, 8; AWM18330; 
AWM29270); Whatipu, Manukau Harbour, W Auckland (NMNZ M087142, 
1); Pataua, Auckland (GNS RM5313, 1); W coast Awhitu Peninsula, SW 
ofWaiuku, W Auckland (NMNZ M087143, 50; M277679,1; M277680,1; 
M277681, 7; M277682, 3; M 277684, 1; M277697, 6; M277698, 6; GNS 
RM5315,2); Kaitoke Beach, Great Barrier I. (NMNZ M090518,2); Tairua, 
Coromandel (NMNZ M090519, 7); Thames (AWM18329); Matakana 
Island, Bay of Plenty (AWM18328; AWM33270); Papamoa Beach, Bay 
of Plenty (NMNZ Ml 20139,150); Boulder Bay, Motuhora (Whale) Island, 
Bay of Plenty (NMNZ M040063, 18); Ohope Beach, Whakatane (NMNZ 
M040064, 50); Opotiki (AWM18327); beach E side Waitaki River, 5 km 
W of Opotiki (GN S RM5561,1); platform E of Te Araroa, East Cape (GN S 
RM4900, 1); Aotea Harbour, W coast North Island (GNS RM4057, 8); S 
of Karioi mouth, W coast North Island (GNS RM4062, 11); beach S of 
Raglan (GNS RM4062,1); Wainui Beach, Gisborne (NMNZ M308659,6); 
Nukumaru Beach, Whanganui (GNS RM5625,166); Foxton Beach (GNS 
RM5319,2); Waitarere Beach, Levin (GNS RM2967,45; NMNZ M014282, 
8); Otaki Beach, W Wellington (NMNZ Ml02500, 2); Te Horo Beach, W 
Wellington (GNS RM5314, 8); Waikanae Beach, W Wellington (NMNZ 
M01128,13; M018827,25; M160083,200; M303126,3; M308073,5; GNS 
RM5844,80; RM5893,120); Kapiti Island, W Wellington (NMNZ M02756, 
30); Paraparaumu Beach, W Wellington (NMNZ M284746, 40); beach S 
of Opau Stream, W Wellington (GNS RM6716, 4); Swamp Bay, Greville 
Harbour, D’Urville Island (GNS RM4060, 1); Ocean Beach, Farewell 
Spit (NMNZ M023155, 5); Carters Beach, Westport (GNS RM5316, 3; 
RM5317, 5); Cape Foulwind, Westland (GNS RM4059, 1); Punakaiki 
Beach, Westland (NMNZ Ml 31404,1); Wakapatu Beach, N of Nugget Pt, 
Otago (NMNZ Ml 11368,3); Mason Bay, Stewart Island (GNS RM6717,1; 
NMNZ M219479,20); Chatham Islands (NMNZ M05151,5; AWM16429); 
beach NW coast of Mangere I., Chatham Islands (GNS RM6012, 1). 
Distribution. Janthina janthina is much the most common 
Janthina species in beach strandings in most parts of the 
world, although towards the southern limit of the Pacific 
range of Janthina in southern New Zealand (from Wellington 
west coast beaches southwards) small specimens of J. exigua 
are more common than J. janthina. It occurs throughout 
the world tropical to cool-temperate ocean, although Berry 
(1958) noted that it is “extremely rare” in California. Judged 
by specimens cast ashore, specimens of J. janthina are 
smaller around southern than northern New Zealand, and 
those collected on more oceanic islands (e.g., Lord Howe 
Island and the Kermadec Islands) are larger than any cast 
ashore in New Zealand, indicating that it reaches a larger 
size both in warmer water and in a more strictly oceanic 
environment than elsewhere. Savilov (1969: 399) reported 
specimens captured at 215 of the 393 Vityaz stations where 
Janthina was collected in the Pacific, with a winter northern 
boundary at about 40°N, where the sea surface temperature 
falls to 10°C. It was also observed near the North Island 
of New Zealand. “Very large concentrations of young I. 
janthina , up to 5 mm long, were noted during the Vityaz 
cruise in ... the N subtropical circulation, including the 
Kuroshio [Current], and in the eastern areas of the North 
Trade Wind Current ... It was almost absent in the Trade 
Wind Countercurrent area. However, this species reappeared 
in large numbers in the South Trade Wind Current, especially 
in its eastern part” (Savilov, 1969: 399). 
One Holocene fossil is recorded above from New Zealand. 
Jung (1975: 119, figs 51-53) also recorded “ Janthina sp. 
1”, probably based on larval shells of J. janthina , in late 
Pleistocene-Holocene core-tops from DSDP Site 147, drilled 
in the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela. His “ Janthina sp. 2” (Jung, 
1975: figs 54-55) is taller and more narrowly conical and 
probably represents a benthic Epitonium species. Janssen 
(2007b: 150, pi. 14, figs 3^) also recorded Holocene fossils 
of “Janthina sp.” from core-tops collected in the Red Sea. 
The larval shell illustrated shows no characters to distinguish 
it from the most common living species, J. janthina , although 
several other Janthina species are recorded as living in the 
Red Sea (Janssen, 2007b). As noted under J. globosa , Janssen 
(2012) also recorded late Pleistocene-Holocene fossils of J. 
janthina from 19 core-tops in the Mediterranean Sea. 
Dimensions. See Table 7. 
Diagnosis. Largest Janthina species, diameter reaching 
almost 50 mm; spire very low (mainly in small specimens) to 
moderately tall; height highly variable, but without consistent 
allometry; last whorl weakly angled at periphery, sutural 
ramp and base only weakly inflated, producing weakly 
trochiform teleoconch shape. Sculpture of many fine, close, 
irregular spiral threads, and a few low spiral folds on base of 
some specimens; most specimens with obvious, fine, closely 
spaced axial ridgelets on first 1-1.5 teleoconch whorls. Sinus 
occupying entire height of outer lip, wide, shallow, V-shaped, 
deeper in lower part of lip than higher up, apex in centre of 
lip; i.e., dorsal limb of lip curving forwards from sinus apex 
more strongly than ventral limb. Most specimens counter- 
Table 7. Dimensions of Janthina janthina. 
locality 
height diam. 
H/D 
Janthina affinis figured syntype 
22.6 
24.2 
0.93 
J. africana figured syntype 
37.1 
39.2 
0.95 
J. balteata figured syntype 
15.6 
19.9 
0.78 
J. casta figured syntype 
31.9 
42.1 
0.76 
J. caeruleata figured syntype 
22.3 
27.4 
0.81 
J. depressa figured syntype 
26.1 
35.0 
0.75 
J. fibula figured syntype 
17.0 
19.0 
0.89 
J. grandis figured syntype 
43.9 
45.7 
0.96 
J. involuta least distorted syntype 
20.1 
20.9 
0.96 
J. planispirata figured syntype 
24.1 
27.4 
0.88 
J. roseola unfigured syntype 
22.0 
23.2 
0.95 
J. smithiae figured syntype 
13.6 
17.3 
0.79 
Lord Howe Island, AMS (Bennett 1966: 41) 
39.5 
46.5 
0.85 
GNS RM4442, Takou Bay, Northland, NZ 
34.3 
38.4 
0.89 
GNS RM4442, Takou Bay 
32.5 
31.9 
1.02 
GNS WM15297, Raoul I., Kermadec Islands 
32.7 
35.9 
0.91 
GNS WM15297, Raoul I. 
31.9 
32.8 
0.97 
GNS RM7635, Ohope Beach, Whakatane, NZ 
14.3 
18.7 
0.76 
GNS WM15986, S. Lourenfo Beach, Santa Maria I. 
13.1 
17.5 
0.75 
NMNZ M277685, Takou Bay, Northland, NZ 
33.4 
36.9 
0.91 
NMNZ M277685, Takou Bau 
31.4 
36.7 
0.86 
NMNZ M277686, Ninety Mile Beach, Northland, NZ 
36.0 
37.9 
0.95 
NMNZ M277698, Spirits Bay, Northland, NZ 
34.8 
38.0 
0.92 
NMNZ M277698, Spirits Bay 
33.2 
35.0 
0.95 
NMNZ M277691, Te Werahi Beach, Northland, NZ 
34.0 
37.7 
0.90 
NMNZ M052955, Lantana, Florida, USA 
32.3 
36.6 
0.88 
NMNZ M010983, Falmouth, Tasmania, Australia 
32.0 
35.9 
0.89 
NMNZ M010983, Falmouth 
29.8 
31.0 
0.96 
NMNZ M052953, Stradbroke I., Qld, Australia 
31.6 
35.8 
0.88 
NMNZ M052953, Stradbroke I. 
31.6 
34.6 
0.91 
NMNZ M052953, Stradbroke 1. 
29.0 
34.0 
0.85 
